Young adult novel tackles heavy topic

Niakwa Place

Garden City

Harriet Zaidman’s latest book, her sixth, sharpens the focus on abortion — a subject that remains the subject of much discussion and polarization, especially in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court 2022 overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling.

What Friends Are For, published by Heritage House, will be officially launched at McNally Robinson Booksellers (1120 Grant Ave.) on Thursday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m.

The book is described in a publisher’s press release as a “nuanced, important, and unfortunately timely (young adult) novel set in 1983 at the height of Canada’s abortion debate, following a young girl grappling with an unplanned pregnancy.”

Fifteen-year-old Leesa is described as a regular small-town girl who’s preoccupied with friends, crushes, and schoolwork. She doesn’t think much about politics, though she does march along her friends and family against abortion clinics. Without giving much more away, the teen is assaulted at a party and, as she struggles with a life-changing decision, she realizes she’s the only one who should have the right to make a choice about her own body.

“It’s a difficult topic, and the consequences are potentially devastating,” said Zaidman, who was a teacher-librarian for 25 years, which included time at Niakwa Place School in Louis Riel School Division.

“Young women were talking about that they should be able to make the decision for themselves.

“It’s not the business of the state to tell women what to do with their bodies,” she added.

Much historical context went into the research and writing of What Friends Are For, and the book includes an afterword and historical note about Dr. Henry Morgentaler, a Canadian physician and abortion rights advocate who opened a private abortion clinic on Corydon Avenue in Winnipeg in 1983. The book is suited to readers aged 12 and above, and while there is a sexual assault in the story, it’s “not on-page and there is no graphic content,” Zaidman said.

As a former educator, Zaidman said there were few better feelings than seeing young students’ hearts, minds, and imaginations engaged by the experience of reading a book that affected them.

“It used to be wonderful to see a young child’s silence descend as they embarked on a magical, amazing journey. It was an important task to seek out books they would benefit from in their early and junior years,” Zaidman said.

Visit harrietzaidman.weebly.com for more information.